For Tuvans, the Khayyrakan mountain (“bear” on Tuvan) is a holy place. The mountain was named in honour of the shamanistic belief that there was a resident God bear ruling over it. It is located in between the town of Shagonar and the village of Khayyrakan, an hour’s drive from the capital of Tyva, Kyzyl. The mountain is striking in size, with steep cliffs, many caves and grottoes. It towers at 1042m about sea level. There are many legends and stories involving the Khayyrakan mountain.

I have a favorite story which my mom told me. I keep it deep in my soul. On the way from Kyzyl to the village of Chaa-Khol, where we stayed during the summer holidays, we always stopped at the foot of the Khayyrakan mountain, in the town of On-Kum. There is a Buddhist stupa erected at that place in honor of the arrival of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama in 1992. He consecrated this place, marking it as a place of concentration of positive energy. The mountain also remains a shrine for shamans. At one of our routine picnics, mother told me a story of how a famous enthnographer became enthralled with our holy mountain. In 1993, the well-known ethnographer Heimo Lappalainen came to a symposium on shamanism in Tyva. He believed that Tyva is the birthplace of shamanism. During the trip, he also visited the sacred mountain of Khayyrakan. He felt instantly intertwined with this place and considered the mountain the most important symbol of shamanism for himself. He loved the place so much that prior to his death, he requested to dispel his ashes near Mount Khayyrakan. The shamans duly obeyed his dying wish. This story impressed me, primarily, with how much you can love a place that is so far from your birthplace.

At the sight of the holy mountain of Khayyrakan, I too, feel awe and a sense of connection with this mount.

Credits to: http://anagely8.livejournal.com/

To understand this, you have to go there and feel the concentration of powerful energy of this place.

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Tuva is a Siberian region of Russia, bordering on Mongolia. The republic may be difficult to access, but we contend that that adds mystery and purity. The pristine nature and untouched culture of the Republic of Tyva attracts only the most daring urbanites, who have long been bored with the typical touristy destinations.

If you crave wild travels, unforgettable impressions and great stories to tell, you’re driven off the grid, and that’s exactly where Tyva is. It is only possible to experience such vivid emotions in the heart of Asia – in Tyva. Thus, Tyva.me launches a series of articles where readers will learn about the unusual places in Tuva and reveal to themselves the mysteries of the ancient land of the Scythians.

The golden mean of Asia was determined in 1910. The image of the obelisk symbolising the centre of Asia has undergone many changes over the years. According to available sources, the geographical centre of Asia was first mentioned in the book “Essay on the Uryanghai Territory (the Mongolian Basin of the Yenisei River).” The author of the book is the engineer of communications, the head of the party for the study of the Upper Yenisei, VM Rodevich. The researcher mentioned that an English traveller came to Urianghai. His personal mission was to see the geographical centre of Asia for himself. He had already visited the centres of Europe, Africa, and Australia. According to his calculations, the centre of Asia is located near the estate of Georgy Safyanov, which was 23 versts (approx. 24 km) lower than Biy-Khem and Kaa-Khem on the left bank of the Yenisei.

At the start of the last century, the middle of the Asian continent was marked by an obelisk in Safyanov’s courtyard. Half a century later, in 1964, the centre of Asia was transformed. A concrete obelisk replaced the wooden one. The heart of Asia was symbolised with a globe on a two-meter squared pedestal with an ascending trihedral spire. On the pedestal was the inscription “Centre of Asia” in three languages: Tuvan, Russian and English.

The author of the obelisk, established in honour of the 20th anniversary of the voluntary entry of the Tuvan People’s Republic into Russia, was the oldest artist of the Republic – Vasily Fadeevich Dyomin. Exactly 50 years, the obelisk of Dyomin served as a symbol of the centre of Asia. The Republic celebrated an important historical date – the 100th anniversary of the Union of Tuva with Russia. In 2014, to celebrate the big event, the centre of Asia radically changed its appearance.

Excavations of two mounds, namely “Arzhaan 1” and “Arzhaan 2”, gave us a glimpse of ancient Scythian culture. The findings inspired the Tuvan people into rejuvenating the previously laconic image of the centre-point obelisk.

The Russian sculptor, artist, jeweler, member of the Union of Russian Artists, Dashi Namdakov, interprets the current symbol of the central point of Asia as follows. “The symbols of the three elements present throughout Scythian culture are enshrined in the installation, namely, an obelisk directed to the sky with a pommel in the form of a deer figure, a globe with contours of the land continents and a fountain representing water. The bowl of the fountain is decorated with twelve animal figures, which in turn symbolize the 12-year calendar cycle adopted in the cultures of the East. Two dragons, He and She, personify the merger of two great rivers into the Yenisei.”

The composition, called “The Tsar’s Hunt” tells that the Tuva land has a great history, since the Scythian times, and managed to preserve traditions and customs in their original form. Parallel to the Republic’s historical continuity in culture, it is dynamically developing and moving forward.

The “Centre of Asia” cultural compound is the starting point of many journeys, and is inspirational for residents and guests. It links today to the ancient culture of the Scythians and the customs of nomadic life. Today, being the ‘Centre of Asia’ is one of the most recognisable aspects and nicknames of Tuva.

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The Tyva.Me project is that – linking Tuva to me, in this case you, the reader. We are a team of a diverse group of individuals, all united by one thing – their passion for the Republic of Tyva. We believe in the huge potential of these lands as an attraction for explorers and as one of the last untouched ecological reserves of the Great Steppe.

Tyva is a beautiful place, shaped by a history that goes back to time immemorial, with esoteric music and a unique culture. Here at Tyva.Me we bring all things Tuvan to you, wherever you may be, and we wish to inspire you with the wonderful intricacies of Tuvan steppes, mountains and throat singing. Escape to a land of clear blue skies and smiling people, to timelessness itself, as you peruse Tyva.Me.

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The modern Tyva Republic is situated in Eastern-Siberian Russia. It neighbors of Khakassia, Buryatia and Altay Republics, as well as Krasnoyarsky Kray and Irkutskaya Oblast. To the Southeast, Tyva borders on Mongolia. According to Rosstat (Russian state statistical agency), in 2015, Tuvan population was 313.7 thousand people, having slightly more women than men. The urban population was 169.2 thousand people, with the rest living in rural localities.

Despite the fact that the Tuvans live an ordinary modern life like most Russians, there are still yurts and camps across the Republic. There are hundreds of herds and flocks. The people continue to support the ancient shamanic traditions while sometimes simultaneously being of Buddhist or ancestor worshipping confessions. It is a part of the spiritual life of the Tuvans, to combine traditions, and for an outsider these ideas may be somewhat exotic, but in fact, they create a unique atmosphere of unity, respect for the elders and love for a diversity of minor folk beliefs.

Tyva is a whole world with people speaking their language and respecting customs and traditions, where the weather is kind and the music melodic. Despite the endless list of unique facts about Tuva, it is worth highlighting three things that the republic is famous for:

Tuvan Shamanism. One of the oldest religions in Siberia and the world, Tuvan Shamanism dates back as far as the bronze age, and even the Neolithic period. Shamanism peacefully neighbours with Tuvan Buddhism, and both religions are in demand in Tuva, working together. Today, Tuvan shamans arouse keen interest among many connoisseurs of unique cultures. Tuva is undeniably a spiritually strong place. Residents believe that the soul of Tuva and the world is in the mountains, lakes and rivers. After death, the spirit can influence the life of relatives. Shamans are able to communicate with spirits and can foresee troubles and sometimes solve them, interacting with those who are dead. Some Shamans claim they are able to suggest how to life in order to maximise prosperity, have a good summer and even bring about the right conditions for crops. For thousands of years, shamans have been and still remain a very important part of the spirituality of Tyva. Usually shamans live in isolation, but interact with visitors as spiritual beacons. In the early years of the Soviet period, under the atheist zeitgeist of the time, peaking during the Stalin’s rule, Shamanism faced criticism and repression, but later recovered in a rejuvenated form. Today in Tuva, there are about 700 practising Shamans. We recommend watching the detailed analysis by Mark Podrabinek about the ritual of communication with the spirits, consulting with famous shaman Lazo Mongush.

Beautiful Siberian nature. Mountains, mountains, mountains, steppes, taiga, rivers and lakes. In combination with clean air and secluded areas, the nature of Tuva makes it possible to truly meditate effortlessly and enjoy true peace and quiet. To realise the magic and power of Tuva, it is necessary to go to spend a few days surrounded by an endless maze of mountains, under the duvet of a clear blue sky and on mattresses of taiga slopes.

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